Trip To Mitchelstown Cave

On the 9/11/2017 we went to Mitchelstown Cave for a field trip. The cave was discovered in 1833. Our guide explained to us that a farmer named Michael Condon first discovered the cave. Michael and his sons ventured into the cave with the most simple equipment which include a rope and candles. They were in the cave for a few days until their candle ran out. They were in the cave for twelve hours, bone chilled at a constant temperature of 12 degrees but were later found. Our guide also taught us that there was a river long ago that formed the cave. The rock in the cave was called limestone. Limestone is a permeable rock which means water can pass through it. When there is rain the soil absorbs the water and seeps down to the limestone. There the water dissolves the limestone and drops leaving a chemical called calcium bicarbonate which forms stalactites. The water that drops evaporates and leaves calcium bicarbonate which forms stalagmites. When a stalactite and stalagmite meet their called pillars or columns. Different colours mean that their different chemicals. There are a few species of spiders in four other caves in Europe. They feed on tiny insects. We also sang in the cave. Everyone enjoyed it and had a great time!!